Instant messaging device/server protocol

• US 8,825,878 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Klassen, Gerhard Dietrich, Wormald, Christopher R., Manolescu, Andreea L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bengzon, Greg C
• Application Number:
  US12/763,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709208-211, 709/248, 715/229, 715733-734, 715750-752, 455/412.2, 4554141-4144, 455/466
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A generic IM device/server protocol permits a single implementation of a IM application on client devices for communicating with different enterprise IM servers types. The protocol defines a server maintained tag to identify the currency of a contact list it is managing for a client device. The client device receives and persists the tag and provides it at login. The server automatically sends a contact list update only if the tag indicates the client devices contact list instance is not current. Presence updates may also be sent automatically at login and the client device need not separately request contact list or presence updates at login. The client device may be pre-provisioned with respective graphics, text and server capabilities for multiple server types. A specific IM configuration may be selected in response to service information.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile device, the method comprising:

a processor of the mobile device grouping contacts stored on the mobile device, based on information associated with the contacts, the contacts each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of instant messaging services connectable to the mobile device;

the processor determining a configuration identifier from a message exchanged with an instant messaging server proxy in accordance with a generic instant messaging protocol comprising tag length encoded messages, the configuration identifier defining one of the plurality of instant messaging services;

the processor loading a configuration file for one of the plurality of instant messaging services based on the configuration identifier, the configuration file being one of a plurality of configuration files each addressing a corresponding one of the plurality of instant messaging services;

the processor configuring an instant messaging application and instant messaging user interface according to the configuration file to address an instant messaging server type for the corresponding one of the plurality of instant messaging services;

the processor displaying a contact list in the configured instant messaging user interface comprising a plurality of contact groupings for at least the one of the plurality of instant messaging services, on a display of the mobile device; and

the processor invoking a command upon detecting a selection of one of the contact groups in the contact list interface from an input device for the mobile device, the command associated with a communication with the server proxy via the generic instant messaging protocol.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises information that is interpretable by humans.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises information that is interpretable by a program.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises location information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a grouping based on the information comprises a group ID.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the grouping based on the information comprises a group name.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the instant messaging user interface is part of a client application.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the command comprises an instant messaging conversation.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the command comprises a multiple participant conversation.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is received from another mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is received from a server.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the grouping contacts comprises the processor removing a member from a grouping based on a presence of the member.

13. A mobile device comprising:

a display; and

a processor electrically coupled to the display, the processor configured to;

group contacts stored on the mobile device, based on information associated with the contacts, the contacts each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of instant messaging services connectable to the mobile device;

determine a configuration identifier from a message exchanged with an instant messaging server proxy in accordance with a generic instant messaging protocol comprising tag length encoded messages, the configuration identifier defining one of the plurality of instant messaging services;

load a configuration file for one of the plurality of instant messaging services based on the configuration identifier, the configuration file being one of a plurality of configuration files each addressing a corresponding one of the plurality of instant messaging services;

configure an instant messaging application and instant messaging user interface according to the configuration file to address an instant messaging server type for the corresponding one of the plurality of instant messaging services;

display a contact list in the configured instant messaging user interface comprising a plurality of contact groupings for at least the one of the plurality of instant messaging services, on a display of the mobile device; and

invoke a command upon detecting a selection of one of the contact groups in the contact list interface from an input device for the mobile device, the command associated with a communication with the server proxy via the generic instant messaging protocol.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the information comprises information that is interpretable by humans.

15. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the information comprises information that is interpretable by a program.

16. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the information comprises location information.

17. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein a grouping based on the information comprises a group ID.

18. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the grouping based on the information comprises a group name.

19. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the instant messaging user interface is part of a client application.

20. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the command comprises an instant messaging conversation.

21. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the command comprises a multiple participant conversation.

22. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the information is received from another mobile device.

23. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the information is received from a server.

24. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the grouping contacts comprises the processor removing a member from a grouping based on a presence of the member.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising computer executable instructions for:

a processor of a mobile device grouping contacts stored on the mobile device, based on information associated with the contacts, the contacts each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of instant messaging services connectable to the mobile device;

the processor determining a configuration identifier from a message exchanged with an instant messaging server proxy in accordance with a generic instant messaging protocol comprising tag length encoded messages, the configuration identifier defining one of the plurality of instant messaging services;

the processor loading a configuration file for one of the plurality of instant messaging services based on the configuration identifier, the configuration file being one of a plurality of configuration files each addressing a corresponding one of the plurality of instant messaging services;

the processor configuring an instant messaging application and instant messaging user interface according to the configuration file to address an instant messaging server type for the corresponding one of the plurality of instant messaging services;

the processor displaying a contact list in the configured instant messaging user interface comprising a plurality of contact groupings for at least the one of the plurality of instant messaging services, on a display of the mobile device; and

the processor invoking a command upon detecting a selection of one of the contact groups in the contact list interface from an input device for the mobile device, the command associated with a communication with the server proxy via the generic instant messaging protocol.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the information comprises information that is interpretable by humans.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the information comprises information that is interpretable by a program.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the information comprises location information.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein a grouping based on the information comprises a group ID.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the grouping based on the information comprises a group name.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the instant messaging user interface is part of a client application.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the command comprises an instant messaging conversation.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the command comprises a multiple participant conversation.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the information is received from another mobile device.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the information is received from a server.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the grouping contacts comprises the processor removing a member from a grouping based on a presence of the member.